Answer:
The patient who would be considered to be in a "steady state" for ABG (arterial blood gas) specimen collection is:
C. A patient who has been breathing via a ventilator for the past 15 minutes.
A steady state refers to a condition where the patient's physiological parameters, such as oxygenation and acid-base balance, have stabilized and are not changing significantly. This stability is crucial for obtaining accurate and representative ABG measurements.
In option A, a patient who has been asleep for 30 minutes while breathing room air may experience changes in their respiratory and metabolic parameters upon waking up, making it less suitable for ABG collection.
In option B, a patient who has been breathing oxygen while finishing eating lunch may have altered oxygenation levels, which could affect ABG results.
In option D, a patient who has just finished a treatment with the respiratory therapist may have undergone interventions that could impact their respiratory and metabolic parameters, making it less ideal for ABG collection.
Option C, where the patient has been breathing via a ventilator for the past 15 minutes, is more likely to provide a stable and consistent baseline for ABG measurements, assuming the ventilator settings and the patient's condition have remained constant during that time.